Grady College welcomes new full-time faculty

It’s not just new student faces Grady College welcomes this fall, but several new full-time faculty, as well.

Eight full-time faculty join each of the College’s three departments.

“This is an extraordinary group of new faculty, and I’m so excited to welcome them to Grady College,” said Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College. “Our students are going to benefit from this infusion of talent and energy. I’m going to enjoy watching them thrive.”

New faculty in alphabetical order by department include:

Department of Advertising and Public Relations

Dr. Zifei “Fay” Chen (MA ’13) is an associate professor of public relations and will teach courses in corporate communications, among other topics. Chen has taught at the University of San Francisco for the past eight years, and her research foci include corporate social responsibility and advocacy, startup and entrepreneurial communication, digital communication, and prosocial communication. After she earned her master’s degree from Grady College, she earned a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Miami.

“As a Grady alum, returning to UGA as a faculty member feels like coming full circle,” Chen said. “I’m most excited to join our faculty team and contribute to Grady’s continued excellence in research, student learning, industry engagement and community outreach.”

Professor Stephen Jiwanmall is a lecturer in public relations and will teach Public Relations Communication this fall. He joins Grady College from La Salle University, his undergraduate alma mater, where he taught journalism, videography and public relations. Jiwanmall has served several roles including a multi-media journalist, public speaking coach and a communications consultant for the National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, a role he still holds. He earned an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

“Grady’s programs are consistently nationally ranked, and joining this team allows me to add my own flavor to the fabulous work being done here,” Jiwanmall said.

Department of Entertainment and Media Studies

Jessica Maddox (BA ’12, MA ’15, PhD ’18) is an associate professor and will be teaching courses in media studies, cultural studies and social media. Her research examines content creators, influencers and social media platforms, and she created one of the world’s first courses in professionalizing online content creation and influencing. She taught the past seven years at the University of Alabama.

“I’m a triple dawg – UGA holds a deeply special place in my heart, and the ten years I spent here as a student helped shape the person I am today,” Maddox said. “It’s truly a gift to be able to come back to my alma mater, this time as faculty, and help shape students the way this place helped shape me.”

Susan Noh is an assistant professor who will teach Entertainment Media Analysis, International Entertainment Media and Television Histories. Her research foci includes global media, digital platforms and the ways in which marginalized communities use digital media to create spaces of belonging. She previously taught at Oglethorpe University and the University of Wisconsin — Madison, where she earned her Ph.D.

“My favorite thing is always the sheer diversity of people and ideas that tend to come together in a singular locale,” Noh said. “There’s always something going on and a kind of energy that is hard to replicate anywhere else. I’m most excited to see what kinds of new ideas and collaborations I’ll come across and helping to foster a supportive and productive community.” 

Kelsey Schmitt (MFA ’23) taught at Grady College as a part-time instructor last year, and has been named a full-time lecturer starting this academic year. Schmitt is an Atlanta-based film director, cinematographer and photographer. In 2023, she wrote, crowdfunded and directed her latest short film, Between You and Me. Most recently her short film “Chessboxer,” for which she was producer and director, won Best Georgia Short at Athens Film Festival in August of 2024.

“Working with film has given me a greater understanding and appreciation for art as a physical medium and has deeply influenced my style as a director and photographer,” Schmitt said.

Department of Journalism

Anthony Amey is a clinical assistant professor in the Carmical Sports Media Institute. He worked for more than two decades as a sports anchor and reporter, including ESPN and three Top 20 markets, including Atlanta-area WSB-TV. Prior to Grady College, Amey was an assistant professor of practice teaching Sports Journalism and Media Writing at Virginia Tech for three years. Amey earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern University.

“What excites me the most about coming to UGA is contributing everything I can to what has already been expertly established here, so that our students can realize their dreams,” Amey said. “It’s what it’s all about.”

Andrea Bruce is the new Grady College Knight Chair in Visual Journalism. She is an internationally recognized and award-winning documentary photographer, publisher and educator, most identified with her coverage of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of conflict. Bruce is currently a photographer for the National Geographic Magazine and The New York Times, positions she has held for more than ten years. In 2021, Bruce identified a news desert in her home of Pamlico County, North Carolina, and addressed the issue by creating “Down in the County,” a hyperlocal, visual first news site that highlights life in rural communities. She has an MFA from the School of Art at the Institute of Chicago.

“I’m excited to get to know the students, learn their vision for the future of journalism and help them make it a reality,” Bruce said.

Jennifer Duck is a clinical associate professor and an Emmy-winning media professional specializing in community journalism, media production and industry-academic collaborations. Since 2016, she has taught at Belmont University in various capacities. Prior to her academic roles, Duck was a producer with Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric and Oprah Winfrey and worked as a reporter and multimedia journalist for ABC News where she served as a TV pool reporter during several historic presidential trips. Her academic research focuses on online disinformation and the role of media bridging divides within polarized environments. She earned her doctorate in rhetoric at Clemson University.

“I’ve had an incredible career and experienced many “pinch me” moments,” Duck said. “But, I’m most proud of all the work I’ve done with students creating newscasts, documentaries and podcasts. Our stories brought unlikely communities together and allowed people to find some much needed common ground. We also learned so much together along the way.”

Author: Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu